Theofandthreaten the
established beliefs of society. American society in the 1920s believed in the American Dream:
the idea that a person could start with little to nothing and, through hard work and
perseverance, become wealthy and successful.
Jay Gatsby threatens this idea
because he could not simply do honest hard work and make his fortune. Even
when he was bequeathed a substantial sum from , Cody's familywith their superior resourcesfound
a way to deprive him of it. The only way he could become wealthy and appear successful was to
turn to a life of crime; he becomes a bootlegger, selling illegal grain alcohol during the era
of Prohibition. The fact that Gatsby must turn to criminal activity to even approach the
appearance of success threatens the whole idea of it.
George Wilson threatens
the idea of the American Dream as well. He works hard and tries to live in an upright and
law-abiding way, and he cannot make his fortune because rich people likemanipulate and abuse
him. He simply cannot get ahead. Again, George's inability to achieve the American Dream despite
the fact that he seems to do and be all that is required threatens the whole idea of it and
makes it seem like a fantasy only.
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